Steve Clarke's men booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals with an impressive victory over the League One side, who were unable to continue their tradition of giant killings
Championship side Reading easily swept aside 10-man Bradford City on Monday night, winning 3-0 in their sixth-round replay, to set up an FA Cup semi-final against holders Arsenal at Wembley.The Royals made a flying start to the match, two goals up after just nine minutes at the Madejski Stadium; Hal Robson-Kanu heading home from a corner to open the scoring, before Garath McCleary doubled the lead with a deflected strike.
League One minnows Bradford have made a habit of giant killings in the cups recently, famously beating Chelsea, but their hopes of a comeback ended when Filipe Morais was sent off, before Jamie Mackie added a third goal just minutes later.While Phil Parkinson now turns his attention to securing Bradford a League One play-off berth, Reading counterpart Steve Clarke was left to bask in steering the Berkshire club to their first FA Cup semi-final since 1927.
Clarke, an FA Cup winner during his playing days at Chelsea, fielded an entirely different XI to the team that lost 4-1 at Watford on Saturday, but any fears from home fans that Reading may take time to gel were quickly extinguished.
Robson-Kanu broke the deadlock when he timed his run to perfection to get ahead of Stephen Darby and glance a six-yard header across Ben Williams after meeting McCleary's inswinging corner at the near post.
McCleary then doubled Reading's advantage three minutes later in rather fortuitous circumstances to leave Bradford shell-shocked.
The Jamaica international cut in from the right, worked some space for himself with some quick footwork before hitting a shot that clipped Andy Halliday and looped over the goalkeeper.
Ben Williams reacted sharply to palm away a swerving 25-yard Danny Williams effort as the hosts went in search of a third and McCleary created a carbon-copy of the build-up play that led to his earlier goal, but curled well over.
Any slim hopes of a Bradford fightback disappeared when Morais saw red for his rash challenge on Nathaniel Chalobah, clattering a high boot into the young midfielder's midriff, who then picked himself up to set up Mackie's fifth goal in his last six games with 22 minutes remaining.
Chalobah slipped the ball through for Mackie to beat the offside trap and drill between Ben Williams' legs to send the home supporters into raptures and set up a trip to Wembley where holders Arsenal await.
